Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,813, Nathaniel Downs, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Downs Nathaniel
S. 15,813.
Carded.
CONTENTS

22.828
Connecticut
Nathaniel Downs
of New Haven in the State of Conn who was a Pri of Artill in the Conn commanded by Captain Warner of the commanded by in the Conn. Troops time for 9 mo
doubtful whether served beyond August 2nd Roll
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn at the rate of $7 Dollars 50 Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of Nov 1833 and sent C. A. Ingersoll New Haven
Arrears to the 4th of Sept '33 $ 93. 75 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Mar '34 18. 75 $ 112. 50
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by C. Laurie Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 3 Page 11

State of Connecticut. County of New Haven } S. City of New Haven
On this 8th. day of August 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the County  Probate Court of New Haven County, now sitting, Nathaniel Downs a resident of said city, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, aged 64 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
That he was born the 11th. day of November 1768; that there is a record of his age in the family bible, of his father, a copy of which is now in his possession, which shows the above date; That he was born in New Haven and has always there lived; That in the year 1781, he thinks in April he enlisted under Capt. William Van Deusen, in the company of artillery raised by authority of the State of Connecticut, and stationed in and about New Haven in 4 divisions, consisting of about 100 men, and continued under Van Deusen three or four months until he resigned, sometime in the last of July or 1st. August and his name appears on Van Deusen's payroll 3 months & 29 days, for the year 1781; and then Capt. John Warner took charge of the company & served under Warner until discharged sometime about the 1st. of day of Jan'y. 1782; and continued in active service the whole time, re-

ceiving private's pay; his duty was to lead the horses in front of the field pieces and hand out the cartridges while the cannon were firing, and to attend on the Captain, and carry his orders and messages; and while in the company, he was ordered out to the West Haven Shore twice when the enemy landed, a distance of 5 or 6 miles, but they had left with their sheep and booty before we arrived, and gone on board of a British privateer that lay off and used to visit the coast as often as once a fortnight; that he has no written discharge; that he is known to William H. Ellis, William Austin, Ralph J. Ingersoll, Nathan Smith, Rev. Harry Crosswell, who live in his neighbourhood, and can testify to his character for veracity; and that he recollects Martin Parrott was in the same company, and Moses Beecher was also in the same company, who recollects his service in said company.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the government of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Nathaniel Downs
We, Harry Crosswell, a clergyman residing in the City of New Haven, and William Austin & Wm. H. Ellis Ralph J. Ingersoll, residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted, with Nathaniel Downs, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 64 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution; and that we concur in that opinion;

and that said Downs, is a man of veracity, in whose statements full reliance may be placed.
Wm Austin W. S. Mousgoff Wm H. Collins
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
I, William Storer, residing in New Haven, hereby certify that I have in my possession a copy of a ret- pay roll of a company of artillery and matross guards, raised by the State of Connecticut, in the year 1781, and commanded by Capt. Wm. Van Deusen, which pay roll I obtained a few days since from the son of Capt. Wm. Van Deusen residing in Middletown Conn.; that on said pay roll the name of Nathaniel Downs appears for 3 months and 29 days pay, from April 23. 1781 to August 18. 1781; at which time to my own knowledge Van Deusen left the company, and Capt. John Warner succeeded him in command, for the rest of the year; and the cut- was when a man enlisted in the spring that he enlisted for the year, and I have no doubt said Downs served till the 1st. of Jany. 1782, as he states, he is a man of veracity entitled to credit, whom I have always known I was myself the year before attached to a similar com- pany commanded by Capt. Phineas Bradley, & know that Van Deusen took command the next year. I have sought for Downs's pay roll, but cannot find it, and do not know if any now exists.
William Storer
Sworn to and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid.
I, Moses Beecher, residing in New Haven, hereby cer- tify, that I now am and always have been acquainted with Nathaniel Downs, described of the above declaration; that I enlisted, when quite young, in the company of artil- lery raised for defence of New Haven, under Capt. Wm. Van Deusen in the year 1781, & served six months in the whole un- der Van Deusen till he left and then under Capt. John

Warner, that I served in a similar capacity with said Downs to the Lieutenant of the company, and that I recollect of said Downs serving both under Capt. Van Deusen & Capt. Warner, & I recollect say until I left, in October or November as I think & think he served the whole time I did.
Moses X Beecher Mark
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Ch.
And the said court of Probate do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after put- ting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further cer- tifies that it appears to them that the Rev. Harry Croswell, who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergymen resident in New Haven, and that Rev. Ralph L. Ingersoll, Wm. Austin, Wm. H. Ellis, Wm. Storer & Moses Beecher, who have also signed the foregoing certificate, are resi- dents of New Haven, and are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit, and that the said Storer exhibited in court the above mentioned pay roll, ha- ving the appearance of an ancient document, which shows said Downs pay for 3 mos. & 29 dys. as stated by said Storer.
Chas. S. Ingersoll
Aug. 7 th Court.
I, Anthony P. Sanford, clerk of the Probate Court of New Haven District, do hereby certify that the foregoing cer- tifies the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Downs for a pen- sion. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 8th day of August, 1852.
Anthony P. Sanford Clerk
to the Hon. J. H. H. H. Secretary of War Nathaniel Downs for Pension.

Supplemental declaration of Nathaniel Downs on the return of his papers from the War Department
State of Conn } S. City of New Haven. County of New Haven }
On this 14th. day of March 1833 personally appeared in open court, before the Probate Court for New Haven Probate District in New Haven County, now sitting, Nathaniel Downs, described in the foregoing declaration of the 8th. day of August last, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following additional or supplemental declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of said act of the 7th. June.
That his preceding declaration of said 8th. August is true; that further, not recollecting the exact time in the year 1781, when he enlisted in said Artillery or Artillery Company, his impression is that it was in April, and he has no doubt the 2d. day of April as mentioned on said pay-roll testified to by said Mr. Storer; that he continued in active service the whole time from his enlistment, in said April until Van Dusen left the company August 1st. following; and thence forward the applicant continued the whole time in said company until it was discharged the next winter, making at least 9 months in the whole; the applicant's impression always was that he served near one year, because he recollects that the enlistment was for one year unless sooner discharged, but having not been able to obtain any papers from Quartermaster, and knowing of none in existence, he cannot say they would show a service on the part of the applicant for above one year, and therefore taken the shorter time, he is confident of 9 months service, that he remembers of parading in the company on the green of New Haven on the receipt of the news of Cornwallis' surrender in the fall of '81, to celebrate it by firing a salute, and numbers of passing columns to the field pieces; that he knows when discharged, he went home, and remained there about 2 months, and in April 1782, went to a trade with Col. William Lyde at New Haven at the trade of a brazier; and

he remembers that this was not long before peace was concluded: That as to his grade, he had the rank, pay and rations of a private , and was entered on the company papers as a private , the whole time, - doing the duty stated in his original declaration every time the company was out, and required to be at roll-call night and morning; that his enlistment was regular for a regular period, viz. one year unless sooner discharged, as a private .
Sworn to and subscribed the day of Nathaniel Downs and year aforesaid.
13 years old
Personally appeared before me the undersigned, Judge of Probate for the New Haven Probate District in New Haven County, Nathaniel Downs, the above named subscriber, who being duly sworn, deposes and saith, that by reason of age, length of time, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively, himself, as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For 9 months, he served in the rank and capacity of a private , with private's pay, waiting on the officers, and field pieces of the company to which he belonged, and that he considered himself and was a private ; and that for such service, he claims a pension.
Nathaniel Downs
Before me, Chas. A. Minsell, Clerk 7 1 o Cent.
And said Court Probate, after the investigation of the matter of said amended declaration, do hereby declare that said Jeremiah Smith within named, did sign and swear to his said certificate as to the within papers appears, and that he is a credible person.
Chas. A. Minsell
March 7 1 o Cent.
I, Anthony P. Sanford Clerk of the Probate Court of New Haven District hereby certify that the within and foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Downs for a pension, on the 8th. August, 1882, and the 14th. March 1883.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 14 day, March, 1883.
Anthony P. Sanford, Clerk.

a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
S. L. 16813. Nathaniel Downs,
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     April 1781 Aug. 1, 1781 Priv William Van Deusen — Conn   Aug. 1, 1781 Jan. 1, 1782 John Warner — "        
Battles engaged in, not stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, New Haven, Conn.
Date of application for pension Aug. 8, 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, New Haven, New Haven Co., Conn.
Age at date of application Jan. 11, 1767 at New Haven, Conn.
Remarks: He died Feb. 8, 1836.
No data as to family.

25 12.5 37.50
Printed articles Quo
37.50
C.A. Ingalls Esq. New Haven Co

I, Jeremiah Smith, residing in New Jersey in county, hereby certify, aged 85 years of that I am now and have have been well acquainted with Matthew Downes, who has subscribed the foregoing declaration; that he is a man of veracity, entitled to credit; that I was in the company of artillery or matross guards, stationed at New Haven for its defence in 1781, and commanded the 1st part of the year by William Vandeusen, and the latter part of the year by John Warner; that I recollect said Downes was in the company as Captain's writer, attending on the hor- ses and field pieces and cartridge boxes, from early in the year, say April or May until the year was in the whole I should as many as nine months, and remember his bringing the rations often to my division of the company - Sworn to and subscribed the day & his year aforesaid } Jeremiah X Smith Newark

O. W. & N. Div. L. W. B. I. 15813.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 27th, 1896.
Sir:-
Replying to your request for information concerning the military record of Nathaniel Downs, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you are advised that he made an application for pension on August 8th, 1832, at which time he was residing at New Haven, Conn., and 66 years of age, and his pension was allowed for nine months' actual service as a private in the Conn. troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. John Warner. He enlisted at New Haven, Conn.
Very respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.
Mr. George Cannon,
Denver High School,
Denver, Colorado.

Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C., _____, 189___
Gentlemen.
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Nathaniel Downs , a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will please find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apr 1781 4 mo Private William Saunders (Guards) Conn.   " 5 " " John Warner " "  
Battles engaged in, None. Residence of soldier at enlistment, New Haven Conn. Date of application for pension, August 8 1832 Residence at date of application, New Haven Conn. Age at date of application, 65 at " Nov. 11, 1767."
Remarks: In April 1782 he went to learn the trade with Mr Lyons of New Haven. Very respectfully,
Edm Loomis' son  833 Chapel St  New Haven Conn.
Alert File New Haven Conn. Pension Com
Commissioner.

RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by L. D. L.
Claim No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant _____
Soldier Nathaniel Downs
Service Conn.
Additional Service Rev. War
No. _____ claim, State records _____, 190_____
No claim, combination records _____, 190_____
REMARKS:
No claim except Fwd. # 15813

OLD WAR & NAVY MAY 26 1896 FILES.
U. S. PENSION OFFICE MAY 23 1896

DENVER HIGH SCHOOL
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. ONE,
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLO.
Principal's Room, High School Building.
WM. H. SMILEY, PRINCIPAL.
Denver, Colo. May 16, 1896.
Chief of Pension Bureau, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:- Kindly inform me at your earliest convenience as to the steps that would be necessary to secure a transcript from your records of any information they may contain relative to one Nathaniel Downs who in 1832 was one of the revolutionary pensioners in New Haven Co., Connecticut. I wish to establish the supposed identity of said Nathaniel Downs with one of my ancestors of that name who resided in that vicinity, as a means of entrance to the Society of the Sons of the Revolution, and desire any information that might be of value in tracing the supposed connection, such as home, record of services, age, or date of death.
Very respectfully
Geo. Cannon, High School, Denver, Colorado.

1000 1000 1000 1000
PENSION U AUG 23 1894 S OFFICE.

C. M. LOOMIS' SONS, IMPORTERS.
C. M. LOOMIS. ESTABLISHED 1865.
833 Chapel St., New Haven, Conn.
CITY OF ELMS, AUG. 22, 1894.
The Mehlin Piano is the piano of the Century.
The Blasius Piano is the piano with the Music Chart.
The Emerson Piano is the piano for the people.
The Chickering Piano leads the world.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS:
Nathaniel Downs of New Haven, Conn.,
a Revolutionary soldier, enlisted Feb. 21, 1781, and was discharged Aug. 1st, 1781, in Capt. Van Deursen's Company of State Guards at New Haven. The officers of the company were John Warner, Joseph Peck, Josiah Bradley, John Shepard, and John Clance. Nathaniel Downs was a pensioner in 1832. In searching the town clerk and probate court records we find there was a Nathaniel Downs Jr., and a Nathaniel Downs Sr., both in the Revolutionary war from New Haven, and we wish to establish the identity of the pensioner of 1832, to ascertain his age at the time he took out the pension, and the date of his birth, if it is shown in his pension papers.
In fact, it is the date of his birth that is the most essential object of this inquiry, as that would disclose whether it was the senior or junior Nathaniel Downs who was the pensioner of 1832. An early reply would oblige us exceedingly, and would be thankfully received by
Yours very respectfully,
C. M. Loomis' Sons.
(Stamps inclo'd).

D
EDITOR W. C. WILE, A. M., M. D. PUBLISHERS: DANBURY MEDICAL PRINTING CO.
The Prescription
-AND-
New England Medical Monthly,
Danbury, Conn., Danbury 189 Feb 8
Dear Sir
Will you kindly look up Nathaniel Dorr on the Pension list of 1832. I think he enlisted from New Haven Conn but am not sure. I believe him to be my Great Grandfather he is on the list of Connecticut records as Pensioner 1832 I shall

glad to receive an early reply. I think my brother Mr C. H. Rev. Joseph Leominer has already written to you but am not sure
Very Sincerely Beatrice Leominer Wile
Please address
Mrs W. C. Wile Danbury Conn
7 Delacy St

to d LMB lo
P
15813 INVALID.
File No. 15813
Nathaniel Downs
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 105
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1894 Sept. 26, Hist C.M. Loomis' Son. New Haven, Conn
1894 Sept. 26 Hist. to Mrs. W.C. Wile, Danbury, Co
May 27 96 col pound to G Cannon Denver
1908. Aug. 6: Hist. to Mrs. E.H. Bristol A.P. letter in S. 4. 10-5-84